Lula City Council member Mordecai Wilson received a certificate of recognition from the Georgia Municipal Training Institute at the Georgia Municipal Association's annual Mayor's Day Conference in Atlanta on Jan. 27.

Brooke Arroliga, a fourth-grade teacher at Sugar Hill Elementary, recently experienced an act of kindness and good fortune. Arroliga lost an item of great value - her teacher bag full of work that "my hard-working students had submitted to me."

Joel D. Whetstone, son of Jay and Carolyn Whetstone of Gainesville, was presented his first set of gold bars and a certificate of commendation by retired Army Lt. Col. Dave Gordon of the Georgia Mountain Chapter, Military Officers Association of America, during commissioning ceremonies recently at North Georgia College & State University in Dahlonega.Whetstone completed his degree requirements and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant in the Army National Guard.

Two Gainesville High School students were recognized by Gainesville City Schools Superintendent Wanda Creel and the Board of Education for their accomplishments on Feb. 5-7 at the Georgia Thespian Conference in Columbus.

The Gainesville Newcomers Club was the host of a Senior Citizen Valentine's Day luncheon Feb. 12 at the Senior Life Center in Gainesville. Volunteers and some of their spouses served a hot lunch and ice cream sundaes to approximately 93 Hall County seniors. During the luncheon, Newcomers Club volunteers entertained their guests with games and prizes.

Army Spc. Thomas W. Roa has graduated from basic combat training at Fort Benning. During the nine-week training period, he received instruction in drill and ceremony, weapons, rifle marksmanship and bayonet training, chemical warfare, field training and tactical exercises, armed and unarmed combat, military courtesy, military justice, physical fitness, first aid, and Army history, traditions and core values. Roa is the son of Mark T. Roa of Gainesville. He is a 2007 graduate of West Hall High School. He earned a bachelor's degree in 2011 from the University of Georgia.